Dear Family- June 23, 2014

Oh boy!

We had a great week. Church was good yesterday, with not the best turn out but it's okay. There were 13 or us present during the sacrament. Elder Drury and I both gave talks (as well as Julie Lévesque), so I guess you're right mom hah we were doing the same thing over here. I didn't have too much time left to say all that I had prepared, but it was great to speak just for a few minutes. Then Sunday school was great, then I taught priesthood on Elder Oaks's talk on No Other Gods. Caleb and Elder Drury were kind of the only ones awake during the lesson, but their comments were great. 

Bah. It was sure something teaching at church one last time. I really don't think everything has sunk in yet, but I'm glad in a way. 

We got to eat at the Worner's home (who are living at the Duponts) yesterday, after we finally got to go visit a sister who is struggling, Sister Bourdon. We invited her to come back to church, and she said she will in order to talk to President Fourtina. President is aware of her situation and is going to be able to settle things soon. The Worners are so great..... we took pictures at the end, but mine are a little blurry, but they'll put them on facebook or something, so I'll show them to you soon. 

We're having another dinner tonight, then we're having Family Home Evening at Sister Bujolds. Then we're eating lunch at Sister Lafortune's on Tuesday, then heading down to Québec. 

Oh boy. I don't really know what to say hah. Asking for what my feelings are... I'm sad, excited, exhausted, pumped up and ready to go, and happy. I wish I could describe it better than that. I can't actually believe that I'm leaving... I feel like I'm just getting transfered. We've had such a great last couple of weeks, working hard and learning SO many things on how to improve what we do. It's a little sad learning so many great things that I wish I could go back and apply from Day 1, but that's not how it works. I'm going to miss my friends here a lot. 

Elder Drury is going to be training and District Leader here! So awesome. They're going to love it here. 

So, I love you all. Thank you for everything. I'm grateful to my Father in Heaven who gives us so many blessings in so many different shapes and forms. And I'm super grateful to see you all very soon. 

Love you lots! Keep up the great work Dallin! You're the best.

Elder Murphy

Here's a picture that turned out well. Our Home Teaching companionship: Elder Drury, Caleb Worner, and Elder Murphy. 

Hello Everyone!- June 16, 2014

Oh wow. Sounds like you all had a great week. Dad, I hope you got my
letter for Father's day, I sent it last Monday. If not, that would be
so sad! I love you dad! I'm grateful for everything you've done for
me, that I can see and even those things that I don't. And you're a
boss. 
Grandma Murphy! I hope you got my birthday letter!! Love you!!!!!!

   We had quite the week. Sister Bujold is just on fire right now
after her patriarchal blessing. She was so excited she told us quite a
bit about it, but good thing we told her not to share everything hah.
She is so great. We had 2 lessons with her this week, and thanks to
her blessing and daily scripture studies, she is feeling true
conversion. She is changing certain habits she's personally working
on, and her desire to help others learn about the gospel is growing
all the time. So wonderful to see that.
   It was sad, that Steeve has struggling for the last while, though I
don't know how much I've included that in my letters. But he didn't
show up for his lesson on Sunday. There's so many things that I'd
share to make everything clear I won't. We're praying for him though
and trying our best to help him whenever he lets us.
   At church, we had the 2nd Counselor in the Stake Presidency come up
(LOOK AT THAT! WHAT A
COINCIDENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) for Father's
Day, with his whole family! It was awesome. President and Sister
Fourtina couldn't come up, and they won't be here next week either, so
that was sad news. They're just having a some difficulties with
employees in their company so they can't make it up. But, he said that
on the 25th he'll come to the mission home to say bye hah, so we'll
see about that. But the Stake Presidency asked President Patrick if
the units can start calling missionaries to callings, so everywhere in
the stake missionaries received callings yesterday hah. Example, Elder
Drury got set apart as the first counselor in the branch yesterday. So
now it's official!
   We were 21 at church.

  Then we had an awesome activity on Saturday night! It was SO
AWESOME! We were 30 people all together....... That's never happened
before since I've been here haha. Woot! And about 12 of them were
nonmembers, 9 being invitees of the Duponts and Worners! It was sweet!
We had an activity from Caleb Worner on gardening, and then ate some
good hot dogs and hamburgers. It was super fun to see the Duponts
getting involved with everyone and inviting so many people, as those
are some things they're working on! Wow!

   Oh wow. I just can't believe everything is going by so fast. We had
some great lessons this week, some very less good lessons, and some
great contacts with people. It's amazing to see how things just seem
to work out, when we go forward in faith. Even if it's not how we
planned. Don't worry mom, we're working hard.

But hey, you are all the best. I love you all! Keep up the great work.

Love

Elder Murphy

 Austin and his friend Tan.

 Happy Father's Day!

Great week- June 9, 2014

Hello!! I'm be praying for little Ruby.

Answers: We listened last week to Conference in Rimouski, and yes using the French translation!

  For Sister Woods the family just had a very simple get together on Monday night, but she didn't want any funeral or church services or anything, so that was it. It was very nice and simple. 

  Steeve didn't let us come over to help him this week, and then didn't give the lesson. But! Hopefully he'll let us this week!

  Good! Elder Wilbur's great. Glad to hear you got to go hear his homecoming talk. 

Great to hear from all of you! We had a great weeeeeeek in Rimouski. Rimouski is so great. President and Sister Fourtina were supposed to come to church but they told us they couldn't make it on Thursday, I think, so we had to arrange stuff and then take care of church yesterday. But it was great. Elder Drury, Brother Worner and I gave the sacrament talks, and then since Steeve didn't want to teach the priesthood lesson, I taught it hah. I'm grateful for all of these opportunities to teach. 

It was great! Brother D'Amours came to church!!!!!! He's our less active friend who lives out in Sayabec, 1 hour away, who we visit once a week. He had promised 5 other Sundays he'd be there, but then made his big entrance yesterday. He's quite the character. It was a great step forward for him, especially since he hasn't been to church in 10 to 15 years. So now that he met everyone again and had a great time, we just want to help him come consistently, and come for his spiritual wellbeing, and not only socially. And another miracle, was that Sister Bujold drove down to Montreal with Sister Lévesque yesterday right after church, where she got her Patriarchal Blessing. YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She was so excited hah, and it's really going to be great for her. Her sister Soeur Lafortune and then Sister Plourde will be following shortly in just a couple weeks. The Relief Society is the core of this branch. What an amazing example of service... Sister Lévesque found out on Friday that Sister Bujold was driving down to Montreal (5 and a half to 6 hour drive there) and agreed to go with her. What an amazing woman. 

So that was great. Two big steps for two awesome members. We're having a branch activity on Saturday at the Duponts, so that'll be great. 

We had an awesome Zone Conference in Québec this week, and it was stupendous. President Patrick had it focused on how the Doctrine of Christ should be the driving force of our work, in all aspects. It was so great. Wow. I don't really know how much to explain it, but it has changed the way I work. It's been helping us with finding, with teaching, with giving service, everything. 

We're receiving the Chicoutimi team this week for 2 full days, so we're trying to figure out how to plan 4 days into 2 but it's great. It's going to be a great week. 

I'm grateful for the chance I have to work every single day, and to be able to help others better understand who our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are. These principles are becoming more and more important for me every day, and it's a blessing to teach these things to my friends here!

Some pictures: Poutine!!!!! On the two year mark.

This is our District!! Me, Elder Drury, Elder Jason (from Guatalupe), Elder Reigner (from Canada), Elder Rock, and Elder Messinger. What great Elders!! Elder Jason and Elder Rock are in Alma, and Elder Reigner and Elder Messinger are in Chicoutimi. 

Love you all! Have a great week!

HEY TAN!!! THIS IS FOR YOU!! You're awesome Tan. You're english is great, by the way. Keep on learning those great phrases. 

Love

Elder Murphy

​

BETHANY!!- June 2, 2014

BETHANYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What I love about Bethany: I love that Bethany is so loveable. I love how Bethany forgives me for not writing last week about her birthday, because Elder Murphy is so silly. I love Bethany because she is a righteous example of love and kindness, and a disciple of Jesus Christ. I love her because she cannot tell a joke without laughing hard enough to not be able to finish. I love her because she will not look at any boys, because of fear that her brother will bring his Canadian special forces back with him to give them a piece of his mind. I love Bethany because she is so nice. Happy birthday Bethany.

Dad!! Man, busy already hah. That sure sounds awesome. It was great to have Stake Conference, seeing it now with the perspective of: 'Wouldn't that be sweet to have Dad directing the meeting?'

To answer a couple questions, Stake Conference was wonderful! We were 9 for the Saturday session and then 13 for Sunday. 

Who spoke: On Sunday, for all of Canada, Sister Burton, Elder Holland and President Eyring spoke. It was so great! What I LOVED is that they all spoke about Faith in Jesus Christ. They spoke about how Faith in the Savior Jesus Christ will strengthen our families, it will heal our pains and wounds, it will lead us to serve others and to heal up their wounds, and it was help secure eternal blessings. It was an great lesson for me, seeing the excitement of our leaders to talk with us Canadians, and then to speak so plainly and clearly about Jesus Christ. He truly is the center of our lives, and His church. Thank goodness!

Priesthood holders: I was sad that the moment arrived, and we couldn't help any brothers be advanced in the priesthood, but it'll happen next week. 

Good idea about Steeve! We're going over a couple times this week to help him study and prepare to teach his lesson. 

We had a good week, glad to say that I'm not sick any more. It made it hard to visit people for a while, since no one wanted to see us in order to not get sick hah. But now everything's good. 

Sister Bujold should be getting a call for her Patriarchal blessing in the next couple days! So that'll be great. 

Our friend Sister Woods passed away on Thursday morning. We helped her boyfriend Walter move into Rimouski (they was living 25 minutes out of town), and it was good to be there for him. Her services will be tonight at 7. It's been confirmed to me a number of times this week that this life truly is just a temporary stay on our journey. It's amazing how once our physical body is done, it's done. It stops. But yet our spirit is still strong, and alive, just moving on. I'm so grateful for the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation. Through Christ, all shall be made alive. 

I love you all! I hope you have just as an amazing week this week as I'm going to have!

Love

Elder Murphy

P.S. I hope Dane's as excited to see Elder Murphy as he was to see daddy and mommy.

P.S.S. We got poutine for my 2 year mark this week, but I'll have to send you a picture later. Bye!

Hello!- May 26, 2014

( I asked him why he in one of the pictures he sent home he had a spanish nametag on his shirt under his suit coat, and a french name tag on his suit coat...this was his reply).  

______________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

Hah actually, Dallin sent me one of his name tags, and I've been wearing it on my white shirt, since it doesn't show because we wear suits here in Rimouski. It's just a nice little reminder I get to wear every day.

Hey Dad, great to hear about your class with the Deacons. I wonder what would get a group of deacons pumped about reading the scriptures....

Whoa!! Holy cow no Dad didn't tell me about his new calling. Thanks mom! Dang. Sounds like some work cut out for you Dad. You're going to do awesome though.

More about Elder Drury: Elder Drury is always happy and jokes a lot. He loves being positive which is great. He is from Riverton, Utah, and went to Southern Utah University for 1 year before coming out, I believe. He came in the mission when I was in Laval, so he has about 9 months left. (hopefully they'll all be here in Rimouski hah). He's excited to work here, and he worked in a small branch for 8 months already (in english), and so he understands the swing of things, in a way. He says he wants to work on his French, because I think the fact that I'm leaving, and he doesn't understand some of the people we work with is starting to worry him hah. But it's a good worry.

We had a good week. We were really busy up until Thursday, but then not so busy after that. I got a little cold this weekend, but it should be on its way out soon.

Stake conference is this week, which is going to be great. Part of it will be broadcasted from Salt Lake, and its going to be for all of Canada (I guess the church still considers Quebec as a part of Canada). Steeve has taken a lot of steps back in the last couple months, but he's moving forward again. He'll be teaching every 2 and 3rd week of the month in priesthood, and we're trying to be there more often to help him learn how to study. It was a great time studying with him this week. I love helping people feel the power of the Book of Mormon!

We also had lessons with other members, such as Frère D'Amours, and Soeur Bujold. They're both doing really well, which is great. Frère D'Amours SHOULD be coming to church some time soon, he just needs to coordinate with a neighbor, since he lives one hour away and doesn't have money to pay for gas. (long story, I'll tell you later).

So some sad news this week, is that our friend Sister Woods was entered into the 'end of life' home (I don't know how to say that in English) on Friday, and is really declining. She found out in October of last year that she had cancer, but her treatments were all going well, up until last Friday morning. We got to visit her there, and she's very positive, but its very sad to see her go. Sister Levesque and Sister Bujold have been taking turns staying by her side so she won't be all alone, since her family seems to be a little bit too busy to see her, which is really disappointing. But yesterday the thought came to mind, that remember, a couple weeks ago, Sister Bujold drove one extra hour go pick her up and bring her to church, because she asked to have a ride. And I believe that was her last time ever coming to church. I'm really grateful that Sister Bujold did that for her, and she is too.

All is well! At church yesterday, we were 11 present. The Fourtinas and the Warners both couldn't come this week.
But hey, they'll be here next week!

Love you all, and I hope you have a wonderful week!

Love

Elder Murphy

May 19, 2014

Haha Brandonn!!!! Nice job in your race! Looking big!

And Tommy! I dont have any pictures, but dang thats awesome! Way to go!

Alyse, and Camille, I'm sure you did great as well.

Dad, I will definitely take up that challenge! I just hope you're ready Bethany. We started running in the mornings here, so I'll be ready to help Bethany out. Don't be scared Bethany, I'm not that mean any more.

So we had a great week. Elder Smith was excited to go and get some new exciting responsabilities! And Elder Drury's great! He's come in with a lot of energy, and ideas which are helpful. And he's willing to teach and contact and fellowship which is so great!! It looks like it'll be a great transfer!

Attendance at church was 20 yesterday! Yay! And our friend Claude came! He's a 'friend' the missionaries have had very off and on for the last 5 years, because he has almost been drinking uncontrollably for the last 5 years. But suddenly, one month ago, after he got kicked out of a addiction recovery hospital, he just no longer had the desire to drink. What a miracle! He came and enjoyed it very much, and liked President Fourtina. Teaching has been (obviously) very unstable but we're hoping to pick it up here soon!

President and Sister Fourtina were amazing this weekend, as always. Wow. 

But I'm excited to work with Elder Drury. He is really excited to work here in Rimouski. Its going to be a great tranfer, and a great transition period, trying to help him get as integrated as possible. 

Steeve Bourgoin (finally) came for his interview with President Fourtina yesterday!!! YAYYY!!! So he received a calling, as Elders Quorum instructor (which is great, because it's like throwing him into the deep-end, to really 'help' him to study.) And Sister Bujold got her interview for her patriarchal blessing. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We also had a wonderful branch activity on saturday. Another souper, and then a presentation on 72 hour sacks. 

You all are wonderful. Thanks for everything!

Love

Elder Austin K Murphy

Heres Elder Drury and me! (Is that grammatically correct Alyse?)

And as a bonus, Austin looking over the beautiful Quebec City:

Dear Alyse,- May 12, 2014

Hello Alyse! I felt bad that you said I had never written you, so I hope that this can start to heal the wound.

It was great to talk to you and everyone else yesterday! I was surprised at the connection which was great for us, but poor for Dallin. I guess that just goes to show how hard it is over there (hah okay, I'm sorry, I know it's tough as well). 

Good thing when I signed on Dane was happy enough to talk with us. I can't believe he's already saying some big words! What a cute boy. 

How's Tommy doing? How is Dane? I read your blog posts, but you can tell me if you want. 

Our week here in Rimouski was great. A couple members were out of town so we couldn't work with them, and most of the week was occupied with service! We did service at Le Friperie, L'Arbre de Vie, La Moisson Neigette, at Brother Hébert's friend's barn thingy, and then at Sister Woods house. I love service now. I can't believe how much it's changed ever since those groggy Saturday mornings in high school when we'd 'have to go move people' hah. Silly old pre-Elder Murphy. But we did get some lessons in, and invited our less active friends to come to church. Some accepted, but none of them were able to make it. Bah!

But it's okay. I'm excited about this next transfer. We're going to give it our all. The big thing will be trying to reactive members (President Fourtina still wants 40 members at sacrament by the time I leave), strengthening those who are already with us (President Fourtina told us of some plans that I can't really share... but sometime I will!), and then going and bringing new faces in. 

It's a wonderful time to be a missionary! I love how while my responsabilities are here in Rimouski, we all are working for the same goal - me and you! Let me explain:

 - At baptism, we covenanted to take upon ourselves the name of Christ. What does that mean? I bet you have a good answer! Dane probably does too. Baptism was the sign of our commitment to become disciples of Christ. What does it mean to be a disciple? If we then are disciples of Christ, what does that mean? (Hint - Elder Dallin H. Oaks talk from April 2013 General Conference, so good.)

 - The best way to be a missionary, for me or you, is to live the Gospel. Through living the Gospel, we receive so many blessings. The joy that comes to our lives is the best tool for missionary work. You can have as much influence on the lives that surround you as I do! 

So let's do it! What a great time to be a 'light of the world'. 

I love you sister! Tell everyone else I say hi. 

Love

Elder Murphy